Device for automatically opening and closing a swing door and a sealing device for the swing door

ABSTRACT

A DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPENING A CLOSING A SWING DOOR IN WHICH AN UPPER DOOR MEMBER AND A LOWER DOOR MEMBER ARE HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER AT AN INTERMEDIATE PART OF THE SWING DOOR, AND SAID UPPER DOOR MEMBER IS PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED AT AN UPPER PORTION BY A FRAME DISPOSED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE SWING DOOR. A DOOR OPENING AND CLOSING CYLINDER IS SUPPORTED ABOVE AND IN FRONT OF SAID UPPER DOOR MEMBER AND A PISTON ROD RECEIVED IN SAID CYLINDER, IS FIRMLY SECURED AT ITS FORWARD END TO THE CENTRAL PORTION OF THE UPPER DOOR MEMBER. ACTUATION OF THE CYLINDER AUTOMATICALLY MOVES THE UPPER DOOR MEMBER TO HINGEDLY CONNECTED LOWER DOOR MEMBER IN SWINGING MOTION WHEREBY THE SWING DOOR CAN BE OPENED AND CLOSED. A SEALING DEVICE FOR SAID SWING DOOR COMPRISES A SEALING CYLINDER FIRMLY SECURED TO THE CENTRAL PORTION OF THE UPPER DOOR MEMBER AND RECEIVING THEREIN A PISTON ROD WHICH SUPPORTS AT ITS FORWARD END A CLAMPING BAR. ACTUATION OF THE SEALING CYLINDER CAUSES THE CLAMPING BAR TO PRESS THE UPPER DOOR MEMBER AND LOWER DOOR MEMBER AGAINST THE FRAME SO AS THEREBY TO MAINTAIN AN AIRTIGHT SEAL THEREBETWEEN.

Oct. 26," 19-71 SHIGERU TAJIMA DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPENING AND CLOSING A SWING DOOR AND A SEALING DEVICE FOR THE SWING DOOR Filed mm}. 4, 1969 :s Sheets-Sheet 1 I 0 j A 13 yr" SHIGERU TAJIMA,

Inventor MIM.WM

Attorneys Oct. 26, 1971 $H|GERU TAJIMA 3,614,974 I DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPENING AND CLOSING A SWING DOOR AND A SEALING DEVICE FOR THE SWING DOOR v Fil ed Nov. 4. 1969 a Sheets-Sheet z SHIGERU TAJIMA,

' INVEN'IOR.

wmmmw ATTORNEYS 06L 1971 SHIGERU TAJIMA w DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPENING AND CLOSING A SWING DOOR AND A SEALING DEVICE FOR THE SWING DOOR Filed Nov. 4. 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 SHIGERU TAJIMA,

INVEN'I'OR.

Attorneys United States Patent US. Cl. Mil-188 2 (Ilaims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device for automatically opening and closing a swing door in which an upper door member and a lower door member are hingedly connected to each other at an intermediate part of the swing door, and said upper door member is pivotally supported at an upper portion by a frame disposed on opposite sides of the swing door. A door opening and closing cylinder is supported above and in front of said upper door member and a piston rod received in said cylinder, is firmly secured at its forward end to the central portion of the upper door member. Actuation of the cylinder automatically moves the upper door member to hingedly connected lower door member in swinging motion whereby the swing door can be opened and closed. A sealing device for said swing door comprises a sealing cylinder firmly secured to the central portion of the upper door member and receiving therein a piston rod which supports at its forward end a clamping bar. Actuation of the sealing cylinder causes the clamping bar to press the upper door member and lower door member against the frame so as thereby to maintain an airtight seal therebetween.

This invention relates to automatic opening and closing devices and sealing devices for a swing door generally used in warehouses or cold storages. More particularly, the invention relates to a swing door adapted to be automatically opened and closed and a sealing device therefor in which upper and lower door members are hingedly connected to each other and the upper door member is pivotally supported at its upper end by a frame disposed on opposite sides of swing door, and a cylinder pivotally supported by a member disposed above and in front of the upper door member receives therein a piston rod which is connected at its forward end to the central portion of the upper door member so that the upper and lower door members may be automatically opened and closed by actuating said cylinder.

There have hitherto been available no swing doors of the type described which are provided with an automatic opening and closing device together with a sealing device for the swing door.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a device for automatically opening and closing a swing door of the large size which is generally used in warehouses, cold storages and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which provides an airtight seal between a swing door and a support frame therefor in warehouses, cold storages and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which provides an airtight seal between a swing door and a support frame therefor in warehouses, cold storages and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which can open and close the door of the type described above with a small operating force.

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Still another object of the invention is to provide a device which can accomplish the aforementioned ends by a very simple construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide an opening and closing device for a swing door which is easy to operate.

Additional objects as well as features and advantages of the invention will become evident from the description set forth hereinafter when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are illustrated.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a swing door provided with an automatic opening and closing device according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the swing door of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the door opening and closing device;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line XX of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a front view of a swing door provided with a sealing device according to this invention;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the swing door of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a view, on an enlarged scale, of essential portions of the swing door of FIG. 6.

An embodiment of the swing door which is provided with an automatic opening and closing device will now be explained with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, 1 and 2 are upper and lower door members hingedly connected to each other. 4 refers to arms extending upwardly from opposite sides of the upper door member 1. 5 is a frame with which the upper and lower door members 1 and 2 are brought into contact at their sides. 6 is a crossbar connected at opposite ends to said frame 5 for pivotally supporting the upper door member 1. 7 refers to flexible wires each connected at one end to the lower door member 2 and passed around pulleys 8 mounted on the frame 5 so that weights 9 attached to the other end thereof may be suspended from the pulleys 8 to be disposed within the frame 5.

Said weights 9 are adapted to keep the upper door members 1 as well as the lower door member 2 in place while they are in a closed position and to provide a suitable lift to the upper and lower door members when the swing door is opened.

In the embodiment described, the frame 5 is shown as being hollow so that the weights 9 may be able to move in elevational motion therein. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to this specific form of the frame.

The frame 5 and the upper and lower door members 1 and 2 are disposed in an entrance to a warehouse, cold storage facility and the like, with the upper and lower members 1 and 2 being mounted such as to close and seal the entrance.

According to the present invention, a cylinder 10 receiving therein a piston rod 11 connected at its forward end to the upper door member 1 is mounted above and in front of the upper door member 1.

Preferably, said cylinder 10 for opening and closing the swing door is operated hydraulically or pneumatically and controlled electrically.

The cylinder 10 is preferably suspended from the ceiling as shown in the drawings. More specifically, the cylinder 10 may be suspended from a flexible supporter 14 connected to a mounting portion 13 secured to a ceiling 12. What is important is that the cylinder 10 should be mounted such that it can move back and forth in pivotal motion relative to the upper door member 1. In order to cause the upper door member 1 to move in swinging motion by actuating the cylinder 10 for opening and closing the swing door, the piston rod 11 is connected at its forward end to the central portion of the upper door member 1. If the forward end of the piston rod 11 is connected to the upper door member 1 at a fixed point, a considerably great lift would be required to move the upper door member 1 upwardly. Moreover, an unduly great force would be exerted on the fixed connection point at which the piston rod is connected to the upper door member. In order to obviate this problem, the piston rod 11 according to this invention is constructed such that its forward end can move upwardly along the surface of the upper door member 1 as the latter is moved upwardly in swinging motion.

As shown, there is provided a box-shaped guide rail 15 formed with a slot 16 on its upper surface. Said guide rail 15 is firmly fixed to the upper door member 1 and the forward end of the piston rod 11 extends through the slot 16. A roller 17 attached to the forward end of the piston rod 11 is received in the guide rail 15 for movement in sliding motion therein.

The roller 17 is inserted in the guide rail 15 in such a manner that it is never dislodged therefrom through the slot 16.

As the upper door member 1 is moved upwardly in swinging motion, the forward end of the piston rod 11 moves upwardly in the guide rail 15 on the surface of the upper door member while moving away from the crossbar 6 supporting the upper door member 1. This permits the upper door member 1 to move in swinging motion with a lesser lifting effort than would be the case if the forward end of the piston rod were firmly fixed to the surface of the upper door member. At this time, the door opening and closing cylinder also moves forwardly in pivotal motion as the piston rod 11 moves away from the crossbar 6. In order to facilitate the movement of the forward end of the piston rod 11 in the guide rail on the surface of the upper door member 1 when the upper door member 1 moves upwardly in swinging motion, a spring 19 may be mounted in the guide rail 15 between the forward end of the piston rod 11 and the lower end of the guide rail 15 so that the forward end of the piston rod 11 may be moved upwardly by the biasing force of the spring 18. This arrangement is conducive to achieving better results.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that in the embodiment shown and described the lift force exerted on the lower door member 2 causes the upper door member 1 to move upwardly in swinging motion and that the lower door member 2 and the upper door member 1 can be opened and closed with a considerably small operating force. This permits the use of relatively small overall size in a door opening and closing device including the door opening and closing cylinder 10. The device can be produced at low cost.

FIGS. 5 to 7 show another embodiment of the swing door which is provided with a sealing device. The swing door shown in these figures represents the swing door of the previously described embodiment which is additionally provided with means to achieve improved sealing effect. More specifically, the sealing effect can be achieved by causing the upper door member 1 and lower door member 2 to press tightly against the frame 5. To attain the end, an automatic sealing device is provided on the upper door member 1. Firmly fixed to the central portion of the upper door member 1 is a sealing cylinder 19 which receives therein a piston rod 20 having a clamping bar 21 secured to its forward end, said clamping bar having a length greater than the width of the upper door member 1.

Guide rollers 22 are attached to opposite ends of the clamping bar 21. Guide members 23 are attached to the frame 5 in positions corresponding to the positions of said guide rollers 22. Said guide members 23 are each formed in an inverted L-shape and secured to the frame at the end of its shorter leg, with the longer leg curving outward ly away from the frame while depending downwardly. If the clamping bar 21 is moved upwardly by the piston rod 4 20 of the sealing cylinder 19 after the swing door is closed, the guide rollers 22 will move upwardly in the guide members 23 attached to the frame 5. As the guide rollers 2 move upwardly, they force the clamping bar 21 to press against the upper door member 1 with an increasingly greater force.

24- refer to guide rails secured to the upper door member 1. Said guide rails function such that when the clamping bar 21 is released from engagement with the guide members 23 as the swing door is opened, the guide rails keep the piston rod 20 and clamping bar 21 in parallel relation with the upper door member 1. 25 refer to rollers which rotate in the respective guide rails 24.

26 is a small window provided in the lower door member 22.

The swing door provided with the automatic sealing device described above is opened and closed by moving the upper door member 1 upwardly in swinging motion by actuating the door opening and closing cylinder 10.

When the swing door remains closed, the clamping bar 21 is moved upwardly by the action of the sealing cylinder 19 as shown in solid lines in FIGS. 6 and 7 and the guide rollers 22 on opposite sides of the clamping bar 21 are moved to the upper portion of the guide members 23 attached to the frame 5. The clamping bar 21 in this position causes the upper door member 1 and the lower door member 2 hingedly connected to the upper door member to press against the frame 5. Thus, an airtight seal is provided between the swing door and the frame.

The manner of operation for opening the swing door in the closed position will be described. The sealing cylinder 19 is first actuated to move the clamping bar 21 to move downwardly and release the guide rollers 22 mounted on opposite sides of the clamping bar from engagement with the guide members 23. Then, the door opening and closing cylinder 10 is actuated to move the upper door member 1 upwardly in swinging motion. This causes the upper door member 1 and lower door member 2 to move upwardly in swinging motion with the two door members being folded. Thus, the swing door is opened.

When it is desired to close the swing door, the door opening and closing cylinder 10 is actuated in a manner which is reversed to the manner of operation of the cylinder in opening the swing door. This causes the upper door member 1 and lower door member 2 to move downwardly in swinging motion. When the two doors members are moved to the closed position, the sealing cylinder 19 is actuated so as to move the clamping bar 21 upwardly. This causes the guide rollers 22, which are in engagement with the respective guide member 23, to move upwardly along the guide members toward the frame 5. At the same time, the clamping bar 21 causes the upper door member 1 to press against the frame 5, whereby the swing door can be closed and maintained in air-tight relation with the frame.

In both of the embodiments described, a packing may be provided between the upper door member 1 and lower door member 2 to achieve better results.

What I claim is:

1. A device for automatically opening and sealingly closing a swing door assembly comprising an upper door member, a lower door member hingedly connected at its upper end to the lower end of said upper door member; a frame disposed on opposite sides of said upper and lower door member and supporting said upper door member for pivotal motion; a door opening and closing cylinder pivotally supported above and in front of said upper door member, said door opening and closing cylinder receiving therein a piston rod which is operably connected at its forward end to a generally central portion of said upper door member; means effecting an air-tight sealing closing of said swing door comprising a sealing cylinder having a projecting piston rod, said sealing cylinder firmly fixed to a generally central portion of the aforesaid upper door member and directed with the rod in the general direction of movement of said door members; a clamping bar atatched' transversely to the forward end of the piston rod operably received in said sealing cylinder; said clamping bar having a length greater than the width of said upper door member and provided with guide rollers secured to opposite ends thereof; and guide members of inverted L- shape which are secured to said frame at the end of the shorter leg, with the longer leg of said L-shaped guide members depending downwardly from said shorter leg and curving outwardly away from the frame while going downwardly and overlying said guide rollers on the clamping bar; said sealing cylinder being operative to bring said guide rollers into engagement with and beneath the respective guide members whereby said clamping bar causes said upper door member and lower door. member to press against the frame so as to maintain an air-tight seal therebetween.

2. An openable and air-tight closable swing door assembly of the character as defined in claim 1, wherein said upper door member is provided in a generally central portion with a guide rail for receiving therein for vertical sliding motion the forward end of said door opening and closing piston rod; and said sealing cylinder is firmly fixed to said upper door member in a position below said guide rail.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 652,018 6/1900 Duner 160-188 1,939,200 12/1933 Brady 49359 X 2,113,291 4/1938 Clark et al. 160189 2,203,264 6/1940 Horstman l60-207 X 2,488,496 11/1949 Mattson 160-207 X FOREIGN PATENTS 663,723 5/1963 Canada 116l88 972,686 9/1959 Germany 160188 DENNIS L. TAYLOR, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 160-207; 49-199 

